Back in 2017, on a trip to New Zealand, I purchased a simple cast aluminium fibre board plane. This plane was branded ‘D HENRY CO LTD -STARKIE-‘. I have not been able to find any images of one similar on the internet or any information about it.
However, I have been able to find information about D (David) Henry & Henry Starkie.
David Henry was born in Scotland in 1988 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. He founded an engineering business with Henry Starkie but that business failed. Then after joining an engineering and patents company he bought into it and then took it over. Henry Starkie had become his brother in law and was brought into the company. They were a profitable small-scale plumbing manufacturer and supplier. Among the first products sold were the inventions of Henry Starkie. The products were the Starkie Water Heater, Starkie Skylights, Starkie Laboratory fittings and Starkie Copper Compression fittings. There are copies of advertisements for their business (in particular hot water systems) on the internet.
In 1936 David Henry was invited to become chair of the newly formed New Zealand Forest Products., becoming managing director in 1938. A sawmill and insulating board plant was opened by New Zealand Forest Products in 1941 and he assigned the sole distribution rights to D.Henry and Company. My guess is that my fibre board plane came about as a result of that insulating board plant and Starkie’s name appears on it because it was his invention.
David Henry seems to have been an interesting character – described as lacking warmth and humour in his working relations and abrupt and demanding of his subordinates. He was a persuasive speaker with self-assurance, business acumen and tenacity. He had a strong Presbyterian faith, abhorred alcohol and became involved in Rotary, Boy Scouts, YMCA, Auckland Manufacturers Association & Auckland City Council.
The company was sold to Zip Holdings in 1973.